The U.S. health care system is contradictory. What will be the share of health spending in 2021? 18.3% compared to US GDP 8.8%～12.8% Percentage of GDP of other developed countries. However, medical care remains out of reach For many Americans. As the 2024 elections approach, it is important to examine how political influence, corporate profit motives, and past reforms are shaping the health care landscape.
The U.S. government spends huge amounts of money subsidizing and supporting the healthcare industry. Accounted for only by Medicare and Medicaid $1.5 trillion Of the federal spending in 2022, more There are 135 million Americans. The Affordable Care Act stipulates the following: Billions more in subsidies Help Americans buy private insurance, and drug companies benefit from it billions of dollars Receives research and development support through the National Institutes of Health.
Despite this large amount of funding, patient continues to face rising costs. The average annual premium for family health insurance through an employer is $22,463 Prescription drug prices will rise by 2022 – Americans spent In 2021, drug spending per person will reach approximately $1,500, which is approximately twice the amount spent in other developed countries. But these subsidies have largely been overridden by for-profit health care companies, some of the largest insurance and pharmaceutical companies report. billions in profits Every year, every year.
This absurd and unsustainable disparity is a direct result of extensive lobbying efforts by medical corporations. In mid-2022, the healthcare industry will Over $700 million When it comes to lobbying, health insurance companies make a significant contribution. The 2024 election cycle will see big insurance companies pouring money in again. millions of dollars participate in a political movement to secure Meaningful health care reform is off the table.
Health insurance companies, big pharma, and hospital groups are all heavily invested in maintaining the status quo. Because many candidates on both sides of the political aisle great support It is difficult for these companies to support reforms that threaten corporate profits. It’s no secret that the health insurance industry is one of the biggest spending industries in Washington. In 2022 alone, Blue Cross Blue Shield spent: $28 million Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Amgen contributed to the lobbying effort. Approximately $22 million For lobbying activities.
However, major health care reforms have taken place and have had a positive impact. One of the most important is ACApassed during the Obama administration. The most popular provisions of the ACA are: protection It applied to individuals with pre-existing conditions and benefited an estimated 133 million Americans. Before the ACA was enacted, millions of Americans rejected People were denied coverage or charged premiums they could not afford because of health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. ACA too expanded Medicaid. Provides health insurance coverage to more than 24.5 million low-income Americans.
The Biden administration has also made significant progress in lowering drug prices. For example, under the Inflation Control Act of 2022, the price of insulin will be with cap It provided critical relief to approximately 3.3 million seniors at a cost of $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries. The administration also negotiation It is expected to lower the price of other drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and save billions of dollars in health care costs over the next decade.
Unfortunately, these hard-won reforms are constantly under threat. Pharmaceutical companies are finding Opposed to the Biden administration’s efforts to lower drug prices, claim Price controls would stifle innovation because much of the world’s medical innovation occurs in the United States, where higher drug prices fund research and development. But institutions that are not funded by private interests, such as the NIH, contribute significantly to early-stage research, and other countries with price controls Germany, Switzerland etc.still driving medical innovation. As these countries demonstrate, it is possible to strike a balance between fostering innovation and keeping medicines affordable.
The U.S. health care system is designed to favor corporate interests, and the political influence of health care providers prevents meaningful reform. By electing leaders who put people’s well-being above corporate profits, we can drive real change. True reform will only happen when we put patient needs ahead of corporate profits.
Seth Gabrielson is an opinion analyst who studies physics, philosophy, aerospace engineering, and German, and writes about the intersection of politics, science, and philosophy. He can be reached at [email protected].
